Attribute-value system


An attribute-value system is a basic knowledge representation framework comprising a table with columns designating "attributes" and "rows" designating "objects". Each table cell therefore designates the value of a particular attribute of a particular object.

Example of attribute-value system

Below is a sample attribute-value system. It represents 10 objects and five features. In this example, the table contains only integer values. In general, an attribute-value system may contain any kind of data, numeric or otherwise. An attribute-value system is distinguished from a simple "feature list" representation in that each feature in an attribute-value system may possess a range of values, rather than simply being present or absent.

Other terms used for "attribute-value system"

Attribute-value systems are pervasive throughout many different literatures, and have been discussed under many different names: